Faculty Spotlight: Eric Thompson

"In college, that curiosity developed into a desire to understand crime, social dysfunction
and malaise," he said. "My first college-level criminal justice class galvanized my
interest."

Thompson worked as a Medicare fraud examiner in Los Angeles while finishing his master's
degree at California State University-Long Beach. He then accepted a fellowship at
the University of Illinois at Chicago and began teaching at Kaplan University while
in the doctorate program at UIC.

Originally, Thompson hoped to secure a job within the criminal justice field. But
after earning his undergraduate degree, he became interested in learning more about
crime causation.

"Although a teaching career was not immediately a consideration, it became evident
that I genuinely enjoyed critical thinking and research," he said. "Teaching became
a conduit for learning about criminal justice-related topics and an opportunity to
share my enthusiasm about the subject-matter.

"After teaching my first class, I knew that I belonged in the classroom. I immediately
recognized that teaching was not just about the subject but rather about leadership,
mentorship and personal development."

In 2005, he was hired as an adjunct faculty at College of DuPage and became full-time
in 2008. Thompson hopes his students take advantage of the opportunity to achieve
both personal and academic success while in college.

"There are opportunities to learn, to activate a social consciousness and to develop
a strong sense of personal responsibility," he said. "Students taking my classes learn
that life is not fair, that character matters, and that success is not guaranteed
but earned. I make a concerted effort to speak candidly to students about the importance
of achieving success in their personal life first.

"They should leave the semester understanding that despite the nature of their chosen
profession, the work is only what they do, not who they are. It is important for students
to recognize that they have the ability to become exceptional and that level of commitment
will prepare them for challenges associated with obtaining success within the 21st
century workforce. Finally, I hope that students who complete my classes recognize
that I have a genuine interest in their personal and academic achievements."

College of DuPage Addison Center

College of DuPage Addison Center is located in the Technology Center of DuPage (TCD) on the east side of Swift Road, north of North Avenue and south of Army Trail Road. Swift Road is approximately 3/4 mile west of Route 53 or I-355.

College of DuPage Lisle location

The Lisle location is home to the College of DuPage Foundation, Center of Entrepreneurship and WorkNet Force. College of DuPage Lisle is located in the One Corporate Lakes building at the corner of Forbes and Cabot drives, just north of Warrenville Road.

College of DuPage Naperville Center

College of DuPage Naperville Center is located on the south side of Rickert Drive. Rickert Drive is accessed by turning north from 75th Street two miles west of Washington Street. From Route 59, travel east on 75th Street to Rickert Drive and turn north.

College of DuPage Westmont Center

College of DuPage Westmont Center is located on the west side of Pasquinelli Drive. Pasquinelli Drive is accessed by turning north from Ogden Avenue one block west of Route 83. The center entrance is immediately north of the bank.